The Altitude Custom Homes Way

our design to build process

Our design process begins with listening to your ideas. We take time to listen to your living space needs and the ideas you have for your future home. We work through a buildup of steps from concept sketches to finished photo real images to ensure you are fully comfortable with everything, all before your construction plans and drawings are finalized. Please explore our 6-step design to build process. Click on each box below to learn more.

Learn About your Needs and Ideas

We begin our process by scheduling an initial design session where we listen and look at your ideas and needs for your future home. Together, we will look at floor plans and home style ideas. We will ask questions to get full understanding of the features, spaces and qualities that you expect in your home.

Initial learning session
Follow-up review and further learning session

Create Initial Concepts

From the things we discover from our Learning sessions, we will begin to create several design concepts for you to review. We will not get it totally right on the first pass, but that is okay, it's your time to be picky and we will listen and make adjustments. You will see the results of your inputs quickly and be able to make an informed decision on which concept to move forward with before we Model your design.PictureConcept LayoutPictureConcept ElevationsPictureConcept Designs

See What Your Finished Home Will Look Like

Looking at floor plans and cartoony renders will not give you a good sense of the finished spaces. Once we arrive at the main design and modeling decisions, it's time to have fun and explore what your home will look like. We can virtually decorate and furnish your home model and produce photorealistic images that will give you the best sense for what your home will feel like.

Characteristics of an Altitude Custom Home

At Altitude Custom Homes we don't build the typical traditional style home. We design for function and comfort by focusing on spaces and amenities to create a sense of simplicity and practical elegance. Our homes are safe, enduring, and efficiency by our use of current materials and build techniques proven to produce healthy high performing homes.

A Little Modern

Clean lines & modern materials for a touch of elegant simplicity.

A Little Rustic

Natural materials & woods to add a touch of warmth.

Always Sustainable

Use only the best materials and techniques for a safe, healthy, and enduring home.

Start Your Custom Design Build Journey

How long does a custom build take?

Depending on the size of the home, eight to twelve months, end to end. This includes design, financing if needed, and construction.
Are there limits to home designs?

Not by us. The only limitations on a custom home are your budget and site. We design true custom homes specific to your lot and style, needs, and budget.
How is fixed price different from other methods of construction contracts?

A fixed price contract is only possible when complete and thorough architectural designs have been created and construction budgets and plans locked down. Under fixed price, changes of any kind cannot be accommodated once construction begins. There are also built in cost buffers to the construction budget, meaning a percentage markup to cover potential material cost and labor increases during construction. As a result, a major drawback with fixed price is that you as the homeowner get less for your dollar. Cost plus fee or cost plus percentage contracts are the actual cost of construction plus a fixed fee or a percentage mark up on costs. These contracts are much more flexible than fixed price in that change orders are accommodated, even after construction begins. Overall cost is less than with fixed price because the percentage markup to cover potential material and labor cost increases is not necessary. As a result, you get more value for your dollar.
Is there a cost for an initial meeting?

No. We typically will have an initial meeting where we get to know you a bit and determine if we are a good fit for your project.
Do I need to have already purchased land to work with Altitude Custom Homes?

No. We have a licensed real estate agent in-house who can help you find a property.
Does Altitude Custom Homes follow a process methodology?

Yes, we have and follow our proprietary processes for design and construction, and we never "wing it" or build without plans. To learn more please visit our process page.
Does Altitude Custom Homes have experience with ICF?

Yes. We are one of the few builders in the north Georgia region with experience building partial or entire homes using insulated concrete forms (ICF). We have worked with most major brands of ICF products.
What custom features are available with Altitude Custom homes?

We specialize in custom design of every aspect of a home and have experience with luxury finishes and home systems such as hidden doors and rooms, heated floors, central vacuum, media centers, and more. We offer custom cabinet design and fabrication, so you are not limited in any way by what is commercially available.